Adilabad: Locals on Tuesday called for Jannaram bandh on February 5 protesting forest department’s curbs on night movement of vehicles through Kawal Tiger Reserve.Local people formed a committee which demands that the forest department allow locals and non-locals round the clock through Kawal Tiger Reserve without restrictions. They announced that people would stage a Maha Dharna under the banner of Sakala Janula Maha Dharna against the restrictions. People in Khanapur Assembly constituency are not happy with the restrictions between 9 pm and 6 am. The forest department imposed the ban on January 3 to ensure safety of wildlife in the area. Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju met Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in this regard and requested him to allow vehicles through the reserve area during night. Flexi banners were put up by the forest department directing people to use a bypass road via Jagtial to go to Nirmal and Adilabad from Indhanpalli of Jannaram. People of Khanapur, Kadam, Pembi, Jannaram and Dandepalli villages say the bypass road will add extra kilometers for Nirmal, a financial burden on travellers. Following the ban, officials started stopping vehicles during night at Thapalpur check post from Mancherial side while vehicles are stopped at Kothaguda check post at Utnoor and Pandavpur. Locals also demanded that the forest department scrap the ‘environment cess’ being collected from commuters at forest check posts at various points.
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